Grigor Gordon

Grigor Gordon, 87, passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on Saturday, August 2, 2014.  He was born on July 10, 1927 to Alexander (Sandy) Gordon and Elizabeth Hazel Stibbs in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He was raised there along with one sister and four brothers, all preceding him in death. Greg graduated from Winnipeg High School.  After living for a time in Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, he moved to Buchanan in 1948 where he later became a US citizen. Here he met and married Julia Schmid in 1949.  She preceded him in death in 2000.  In Buchanan he learned the skilled trades in residential construction and soon expanded his experience to become a building contractor.  His most notable work included custom lakeshore vacation homes for customers throughout the Midwest.  As a well-known community member he enthusiastically used his unique construction skills to help friends and neighbors; his sly wit kept them laughing all the way.  True to his Scottish heritage Greg was a devoted patriarch and role model who created family traditions by initiating annual projects at the family cottage in the Upper Peninsula.   With a task assigned to even the youngest family member, the objective was to get a little work done and a lot of fun accomplished.     His passions were his family, the outdoors, politics, current events, and investing. Greg leaves four children, Thomas (Grace) Gordon of Buchanan, MI; Kathleen (Michael) Staszel of Grand Rapids, MI; Frederick (Vicki) Gordon of Holland, MI, and Karen Gordon of Bay Point, CA;  five grandchildren, Rebecca (Mitchell) Simmons of Canton, GA, Christopher Gordon of Phoenix, AZ; Alex Gordon of Niles, MI, Andrew Gordon of Lansing, MI, and Kristine Gordon of Buchanan, MI.  He will be missed by many nieces and nephews throughout the US and Canada, and fondly remembered by special friends. A memorial service will take place at the First Presbyterian Church of Buchanan, 115 Front   Street, Buchanan, MI, at 4:00 PM, on Friday, August 8, 2014.  It will be followed by a light lunch in the church fellowship hall.  Donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Buchanan, or the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation, 111 Days Avenue, Buchanan, MI, 49107. To sign his guest book or leave a condolence message please visit our web site www.swemchapel.com